By: Marcy Barthelette
O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying. Psalm 78:1
I’m sure I’ve mentioned, at least a time or two or three, that my husband has a penchant for exploring genealogy. And he exercises almost never-ending patience in his search for any little rabbit hole that may result in newly discovered knowledge of his ancestors. He’s had amazing success on the maternal side of his family, going back definitively for at least eleven generations. He’s gone much further, but sometimes the sources become a little questionable, so he qualifies any statements predating his ninth great-grandfather, Jacques Archambault, who, quite notably, was the digger of the first water well in Montreal, and is still to this day honored with a plaque on the site, proclaiming his accomplishment.
His paternal side is another story completely. He hits the proverbial blank wall after his great-grandfather. He’s tried avenue after avenue to no avail. Every trail disintegrates, and he is left empty-handed.
A search for answers often depends on the time period in which an ancestor migrated to this country. If it was very early in our development, careful records were not always kept, and action seekers tended to migrate further west, living among and often marrying into indigenous cultures, where record keeping didn’t exist. A person or family that remained in their country of origin until a later time before migrating is more easily tracked, as international records typically predate those of the US. Ken’s family came from France by way
of Canada, adding an extra layer of mystery to their story. Add to that the fact that they wanted a fresh start in a new world and often changed their names slightly to fit in with their new culture. It’s also important to note that many people couldn’t read or write, and so a name was entered into census records as it sounded to the person doing the actual writing, perhaps incorrectly.
Ken’s search has continued for years, seeking advice on a trip to Canada, which gave him only the fact that fire had destroyed a large body of records, and then time spent in the Mormon archives, again with no success. With the advent of the internet, he was sure all the doors would open, but it did not happen. He’s researched alongside individuals who have had great success with online genealogical sites and, of course, tried to mine information from family members, but the older generation had passed on before his interest in his ancestors peaked. There’s really no living family member of whom he can ask his questions. I can’t count the times I’ve heard him say, “I wish I had asked my grandparents how the family came to be where we are today.” But we don’t start really caring about these things until it’s too late.
For I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. Psalm 78:2-3
This morning, one of my devotionals asked the question; Why was the Bible so often written in parables. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve asked that very question myself. Then I realized that genealogical research is very much like a parable. In either case, we must search diligently for answers. We must listen carefully and seek to understand the unknown. Jesus wanted us to truly listen and follow his teaching, but if knowledge came too easily, we humans tended to forget, so He chose to stir our imaginations with questions that would lead us to Him if we were willing to persevere.
If you have questions, whether about ancestors or the Bible, ask them now, while there is still time. Don’t wait until your expiration date is past.
As for Ken, he keeps searching. He may put away his genealogical conquests during the summer, but come winter, when he’s looking for something to do indoors, he’ll start digging again, pulling at threads, approaching from different angles. Maybe one day the answers to his ancestry will make themselves known. If not, he has enjoyed the search, and one fine day, when he sits down beside Jesus, all his answers will become crystal clear.
For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, So the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. Psalm 78:5-6
